Adam and Peter
Part 3
Christmas and New Year went exactly as Mum and Dad had planned it. Peter again slept in the same bedroom as Michael, dual purpose this time. The main one was to deflect any ideas about Peter and my relationship from his parents. We had talked about this with Mum and Dad. They didn't like Peter keeping it from his parents and Peter didn't either, but he was sure his mother would be very anti. We did consider the idea of talking to his dad first but again Peter thought it was too risky.
"If they threw me out Adam, I would lose my access to Michael apart from at school, I can't risk that."
I felt the same way, I had become seriously attached to Mike as my little brother. Unlike most siblings with a large age gap, we actually went out of our way to include Mike in any activity we could. He loved it and we had become good friends. We didn't go overboard with presents but I did spend a bit more on Mike than perhaps I should have done. I got a disapproving look from his mum when Peter opened my present to him. He had always admired my football boots so I had bought him a pair of the same. They were very expensive and his mother knew because apparently Peter had gushed a little when he had told his parents about my boots and how much they had cost.
I began to realise that Peter's mother was very class conscious and resented my family's wealth. Fortunately his dad didn't so he acted as a buffer for her resentment.
Everything went swimmingly until New Year's Day. We had packed everything we could so that we could get away early the next morning and still leave the last evening free for enjoyment. During the afternoon people were just lazing around mainly watching the two youngest ones play. Peter and I slid out together to pick up some bits from the kitchen and that was a disaster. We were in the kitchen getting the drinks and nibbles for the rest but felt like a kiss. Wrong time, wrong place, we were swallowing each other's tongues when his mother walked in. Boy, talk about the shit hitting the fan. She ran from the kitchen and we followed.
"Fred, we are leaving, now. I've just caught these two kissing. I thought there was something going on, that boy has always been too much for me."
I looked imploringly at my dad.
"Now calm down Annie, we need to talk about this rationally for the sake of the boys."
Mrs. B almost flew at my dad.
"There's nothing to talk about. Your boy has perverted my son and I want him away from here now."
Peter stepped in then and completely floored his mother with his comment.
"I'm not leaving Mum, Adam and I love each other and I'm going to be with him forever. Please try to understand."
No chance of that was my thought until Mr. B stepped in.
"Now Annie, just calm down, let's listen to the boy's before we go off half cocked."
Mrs. B glared at everyone and then subsided. I was so pleased that Mr. B wore the trousers in the Bottomley household.
"Now Peter, would you like to explain."
Peter sat down with me next to him and gathered his thoughts.
"You remember the beating I got that put me in hospital, well the boy that did it has been terrorising me ever since. I wasn't worried for me but he told me if I didn't do as he said he would make Michael do it. What he made me do was sexual things and I realised I liked it, but not with him. When Adam found out he took some photos that we have used to stop the bullying. At the same time we realised that what we felt for each other went deeper than friendship and we became lovers. We have so much in common and can almost read each other's minds. As you know, Adam has no siblings but he thinks the world of Michael. We want to be treated like brothers by you and Mum if you can't accept us as lovers, but whatever happens, Dad, I'm going to be with Adam."
"If we throw you out how will you live, where will you live?"
"I'll live with Adam, we'll manage, we've already decided."
"He's brainwashed our son Fred, we ought to go, all of us."
"No Annie, what we have to do is think about this rationally. I presume you both knew about this?"
Mr. B was addressing my mum and dad. Dad answered which was par for the course with things affecting the family.
"Yes Fred we did. The boys, and we have been unhappy about keeping it from you and Annie, but Peter loves Michael very much and was worried about being kept away from him. The boys are gay and nothing we can do will change that. We are not about to lose our son because nature made him that way. We know it is something they are born with, this gay gene as they call it, so we accept it. We are proud of Adam. He is a fine sportsman and a good scholar. We also think he is a fine human being. We have accepted Peter into our family and treat him like a second son because he has the same attributes."
Mr. B nodded and then addressed me.
"I know that if we let you two continue your relationship, Peter's mother is going to be worried about Michael. What have you got to say about that?"
Michael had been listening to all this with his mouth open in surprise.
"Gay doesn't make me promiscuous or a predator Mr. B. I love Peter, I never want to have a relationship with anyone else, and certainly not someone as young as Mike. I have come to love him like the little brother I never had. I would really be upset if I couldn't see him like I do now. He is old enough to know if I did anything inappropriate but that is never going to happen."
"Please Dad, I love having another big brother, Adam is really nice to me."
Mr. B nodded and we could see he was thinking.
"I don't know what, if anything we are going to do about this. Annie and I will have to think and talk about it. I can tell you I'm not very happy about this but like you, I am proud of Peter and I don't want to lose him either."
Michael surprised us all then, remember he was only eleven years old, had just found out his hero is gay and the best friend of that hero is as well. He came and sat down beside me, slung his arm across my chest and looking up at me said.
"I love you Adam, I'm glad you love Peter."
Mrs. B went ballistic, Mr. B had a real job on his hands calming her down. I knew then that I was never going to overcome her prejudices and that Peter, Michael and I would have a hard time with our relationships until we were all adults. I was right as well. It was the only cloud on our horizon for years. An uneasy calm settled on the house for the remainder of the day, spoiling an otherwise great Christmas. The next morning, more fireworks. Michael wanted to drive back with us. Mrs. B made a scene again but Mr. B got stroppy with her.
"Leave it out Annie. The boy loves to travel in Adam's car, he's done it often enough. Drive carefully Adam."
"You know I will Sir. They are just about the most precious cargo I'll ever carry. Want to sit up front with me for a change Squirt?"
"Oh yes please," he grabbed Peter's hand and mine, looked up at us and continued, "I've got to be the luckiest guy in the world having two big brothers like you."
That really was the comment that secured our continued relationship. Mr. B saw it and knew that he would have two very unhappy sons if he changed anything. It was a great pity because it soured the marriage to the point that when the two youngest left school Mr. B walked out and filed for divorce. My dad was great and set Mr. B up in an apartment and employed him after the break up, but that was a long way in the future.
Back in Hertfordshire and my life changed a bit. I dropped Peter at his house as normal, we took Michael with us as often as we could for activities but I never went in or had any contact with Mrs. B, other than if she answered the door when I called. It was sad really, Mum and Dad saw the change in Peter and guessed the reason. If we hadn't loved each other so much I'm sure we would have drifted apart under the strain, but, in the event I think it strengthened our love.
Winter turned to spring and football finished. We hadn't lost a game so the whole team were treated to a large amount of hero worship with Peter and I heading the list. I had scored a phenomenal number of goals because Peter fed me such incredible passes all the time, and I told everyone so.
"Anybody could have scored from the passes Peter fed me, he just made me look good, but he's the star."
That comment cemented my reputation as a good guy, not a prima donna, which would have been easy. Athletics next and we both did well. We took Michael with us to all the meets and whenever I could get away with it he came to the apartment with us. We had a major battle to get a sleepover for him but Mr. B looked at it logically.
"If you were going to do anything you shouldn't you wouldn't need a sleep over for it."
I loved Mike to pieces, he was happy with Peter and I being lovers and frequently caught us kissing. That was usually an excuse for more hilarity between us.
"Oh yuk, you two eating each other's faces that's gross."
Then he would run because when we caught him we would tickle him and I would blow raspberries onto his neck. He would struggle like hell to get away until we took mercy on him. One day when he was nearly thirteen, we only had a few weeks to go before school finished and we were to get ready for university, that scenario took place again. Instead of struggling, when we got him pinned down and I was about to attack his neck, he looked straight at me and said, with so much emotion in his voice it made both Peter and I gasp.
"I love you so much Adam, will you kiss me like you do Peter?"
I sat back on my haunches in shock and looked at Peter for help. There was none coming, that had floored him as well.
"I can't Mikey that is so gay. Two guys only kiss because they are in love."
"But you love me don't you Adam, and I love you."
What could I say, I couldn't tell him I loved Peter differently to him, that wouldn't register.
"Kiss him Adam, but only if he swears he will never mention it to our parents."
"I swear, please just kiss me Adam."
So I did, not a long one and not a passionate one, but it was still a ball breaker. Mike's lips were so soft and receptive.
He cried then and hugged me for ages while I stroked him until he had calmed down.
"I guess we really are brothers now aren't we Squirt?"
He hugged me and whispered, "Yeah, very special brothers, do you think Peter will kiss me like that as well?"
He giggled then so I made the big mistake and said, "Why don't you ask him?"
"I love you as well Peter, will you kiss me like you do Adam?"
Peter's turn to blush but I calmed that one.
"Brother's kissing on the lips isn't taboo Pete, go ahead, be warned though, he's a pretty hot kisser."
Peter did the same as me but he gasped, "Christ you weren't kidding were you? No more of that Michael otherwise I'll want to make love to you."
Things just kept getting worse.
"Oh, yes please, will you both make love to me?"
Peter was shocked.
"No, definitely not."
"You don't love me as much as Adam then do you because you make love to him."
I jumped in then, this was getting too heavy.
"Come and sit with me Squirt, we need to talk."
We went through to the lounge and I sat with Mike on a sofa.
"Peter and I love you very much, but we love you as brothers. What Peter and I do together we do as lovers. That isn't something you share, or do with multiple partners. Also, Mike, when two boys make love that is very gay. They do things that straight people don't agree with. We couldn't do them with you even if we wanted to because you are too small and we would hurt you enormously. I'm never going to be unfaithful to Peter, not even with you who I love more than anyone other than Peter and my parents. Do you understand?"
"But what if I'm gay as well?"
"If you are, we will do everything we can to help you over any problems. We'll teach you about gay love as well, but we'll never make love to you Mike, it's just not on."
He sighed.
"Ok, I just love you both so much and you are both so sexy even if you are my brothers."
He giggled then and we were back to normal. Later that day though after Mike had been taken home Peter and I talked about it. He was mightily relieved that we had come through it relatively unscathed. University came next and a problem. A decision needed to be made concerning the apartment. Realistically I had no more use for it. Mum and Dad would expect me to stay with them when we were home. Peter's parents would expect the same from him, but, whereas Peter could stay with me, I couldn't stay with him. Dad as always came up with the solution.
"We'll keep the apartment Adam, I'll pay your caretaker a small retainer to keep the place aired and ready for use. From a practical point of view, you and Peter will need it when you are on breaks from Uni. I'm sure we can work something out so that us and Peter's parents are satisfied. Of course you have to think about Michael as well don't you?"
Of course Dad made it work for us. During school holidays we split our time between my home and the apartment and when we went to Worcester we usually managed to take Mike with us as well. He loved it and did all the things we did. The gym was never used as much as it was when all three of us were there together. Mum loved having three boys to spoil and Mike was mightily impressed when dad used to take us in to his works and get us doing jobs because he treated him the same as us. For Peter and I it was like work experience, both of us were studying for MBAs and would quite possibly end up working for dad. Well, I would inherit it all one day which meant Peter would as well.
Peter's dad warmed to us after a couple of years when he truly accepted that we were very much in love, but his mum never did so I was the wicked predator forever.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Final part in a couple of days.